Rocking horse



May 1931- J. H. BERNS, JR 1,806,035

ROCKING HORSE Filed June 28.1929

Jalm HEM/2v BER/V5, JR-

Patented May 19, 1931 N TED STATES JOHN HENRY IBERNS, 33,, OF TAMPA, FLORIDA ROCKING 'HORSE Application filed June as, 1929. Seria1 No. 374,367.

The primary object of this invention is to 7 make a practical rocking horse that can be sent through mails, and to this end, to provide a knockdown structure which when separated into its constituent parts may be put into a carton within the mailing dimension limits.

Another object of the invention is to provide a stout, rigid, and durable construction I a capable of being easily put together and taken apart without the use of tools.

A further object is to produce a rocking horse suited for use by small children, upon which they may readily seat themselves withif, out help, and from which they will not be likely to fall.

The standard types of rocking horses and rocking seats intended for children are usually very expensive and heavy, and are asto sembled at a factory with no provision for being collapsed or knocked down for shipment. They must be sent by freight or express, since they are much too bulky to be sent by parcels post which has dimensional limits too small for such articles. In several types of such seats or toys, the child when small cannot climb into or upon the place where it is to sit but must be lifted up by some one else.v

In the description of the preferred embodiment of this invention chosen as a typical construction for purposes of illustration, it will be seen that the invention accomplishes its objects in a simple, inexpensive, and elficient manner, and it will be evident to those skilled in the art that many changes may be made in the details of construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the claims and without sacrificing any of its advantages.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device; Fig. 2 a

rear end elevation; Fig. 3 a plan View; and Fig. t a perspective view.

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A. platform 1 has metallic'oross bars 2,2, secured upon its under surface,the bars having their ends bent to form brackets which are perforated to receive bolts 3, 3,,which pass through perforations in side piecesor rockers a, 4, the perforations'being'so located that the top of the platform is flush-withthe straight upper edges of the rockers. The straight, side edge of the platform abutting against the edge of the rockers andheld 'firmly in place by the bolts gives a very rigid construction, further strengthened bya cross bar 5 bolted at each end to the lower margin of the rockers, this-cross bar 5 being substailr tially identical with the bars 2. r V A seat 6 is supported by fourjstoutlegs 7 which are preferably round barshaving tenons at their ends'to seat 'withi n mortises inthe seat and in the platform. A head 8'cut and decorated to represent a horses head is secured by lag bolts and nuts 9, 9, .uponthe front portion of the upper surface of the seat (5. A handle consisting of a round bar 10 passes through the head where it may be'readg ily grasped by a child seated astride' of the .70 seat '6 with its feet resting upon thei platform. 1. Additional rigidity maybe secured by using a tension rod ,or bolt 11 set olose to the rear of where the head rests upon the seat; the rod passing through perforations in the seat and in the platform; I V

7 By the use of wing nuts 12 upon the various bolts, the purchaser may assemble the device for use without needing any tools, and

after the assembled devicelhas been in:use, s0

:height of five or six inches, andfstanding there, the seat is at a height'to'be mounted without trouble, since the feet of the child rest upon'the platformwhen he is astride of the seat Grasping the h'andla'the'ehild,canto .detac'hably secured between the rockers with rock freely and safely backward and forward, the center of gravity lying well below the center of curvature of the rockers. At each end, the rockers are provided with a down-turned tip portion 13 to engage the floor to limit the rocking movement. If the child rocks with suflicient force to strike the tips before the momentum is overcome by the lifting action of the rockers, the device Will tend to slide if the surface upon which it rests is smooth, and this sliding movement is a further source of amusement to the child. r

The broad platform, rigidly bracingthe rockers and forming afirm footing for the child while rocking and when getting on and off the seat, also acts as a secure support for the legs carrying the seat. The tension rod 11 will not be needed when the rocker is used by small children butits presence will add to the certainty that the structure will not fail witheven the largest riders. A most important feature is the handle 10 Within easygrasp of the rider, adding to his confidence and assuringhis safety in a way that cannot be accomplished by the usual cord or leather bridle.

Inthe salesroo m, oneor two of the devices, assembled for demonstration, require little space, while the stock packed in cartons, feadyfor immediate delivery, is in the most convenient form, especially in view ofthe possibility of-s'ending the cartons by parcels post. It' will of course be evident that the embodiment isto be considered as illustrative not restrictive, the claims indicating the scope of the invention.

I claim lQA collapsiblegor knockdown rocking horse adapted for being packed within mail ing limits, comprising a flat platform, morti's ed' toreceive legs, fiat rockers, detachable means for securing the rockers to the platform, a flat seat mortised to receive legs, legs adapted for vdetachable seating within the mortise's' in the seat and in the platform, and a head havingdetachable means for securing it to the seat.

I 2. .A structure as in claim 1, in which the head is perforated to receive a handle and having a handle consisting of a bar adapted to extend through the perforation in the head. H y

, 3.]A rocking device comprising two rock} ers having straight upper edges,1a platform its upper. surface substantially flush with the upper edges of the rockers, legs mounted in the platform, a seat supported by the legs, tensionme'a'ns holding the seat, legs, and platform detachably together, a head secured to the seat, and a. handle comprising a rod 'pass ing through the head and projecting on each sidetogb'e graspedby a rider on' the seat.

4; A rocking device comprising a plat-- signature. v V

JOHN HENRY BERNS', JR. 

